Odias at Kolkata Welfare Association, popularly known as OAK celebrated its Annual festival “Vande Utkala Janani -VUJ -2018” at the Science City Main Auditorium Kolkata with a jam packed audience. This event is a mark of celebration of Utkal Divas or Odisha Day in the memory of the formation of the state as a separate province on 1st April, 1936.

Speaking on this occasion Sri Guru Prasad Pattnaik, President, OAK said, This function of OAK is held to remember the foundation day of Odisha after it was carved out of the combined Bengal-Bihar-Orissa province and became a separate state on 1st of April 1936. The entire OAK collective in Kolkata on this day pay tributes to the legends and renowned personalities who fought for Odisha.

The Mega Attraction of this year’s Vande Utkal Janani- 2018 was India’s Raw Star -2014 “Rituraj Mohanty”, who kept the audience spellbound with his melodious voice.

The second attraction was a very talented and upcoming artiste Ashima Panda from Odisha, who is making waves for her lilting tunes and versatility. “Mo Haldi Gina, Tu Mo Hero” are some of her recent hits plus the Bhajans and romantic numbers which have caught the audiences imaginations.

The Surprise Event was the performance of “Jugala Sankha Badya” by Shri Pabitra Kumar Mohapatra and his troupe from Berhampore, “Ranapa” an old difficult art was displayed by them in the most sublime and rhythmic form. Undoubtedly this performance by Shri Mohapatra and his troupe was an icing on the cake.